Articles tagged with Universe
Researchers at Northwestern University have confirmed that an electron's charge is perfectly spherical, strengthening the Standard Model of particle physics. The study excluded alternative models that predicted the electron's shape would be asymmetrically squished, potentially revealing unknown heavy particles.
Researchers used supercomputers to simulate early universe, revealing formation of first stars and galaxies. Metal-enriched gas enabled rapid star formation, leading to smaller, more numerous stars and galaxy evolution.
Recent developments in string theory suggest a paradigm shift could be imminent, with some theories being incompatible with dark energy. Timm Wrase's calculations reveal that certain fields may not exist in string theory, contradicting the Higgs field's properties.
Researchers from UC Berkeley used statistical analysis of 740 supernovas to conclude that primordial black holes can make up no more than 40% of the universe's dark matter. This finding suggests that heavy black holes or MACHOs do not exist as a type of dark matter.
The new Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach will provide a unique public experience with data visualization systems, interactive exhibits, and simulated telescope control rooms. The center highlights research carried out at NSF facilities worldwide.
Researchers at Indiana University are leading an experiment that could shed light on the existence of matter in the universe. The project aims to detect a small separation of electrical charges in neutrons, which would validate theories about the imbalance between matter and antimatter.
A new theory suggests that a dynamical system singularity may not be a physical reality, allowing the universe to evolve infinitely. The study, published in Physical Review D, proposes an alternate gravity model that includes quadratic scalar invariants and corresponds with Alexei Starobinsky's inflational theory.
Researchers from the University of Leicester played a key role in discovering the origin of 'ghost particles' - high-energy neutrinos and cosmic rays. A global network helped identify a known blazar as the source of these particles, providing new insights into the universe's most distant energy sources.
The cosmological constant was first introduced by Einstein in 1917 to make the static universe model work. However, after the discovery of cosmic expansion, it became marginalized until recent observations and experiments revived its relevance as a key component of dark energy theory.
Diagnosis is a collaborative process that involves patient participation and clinician inquiry. By allowing patients to describe their symptoms and concerns, physicians can gather valuable information and narrow down potential diagnoses.
Scientists used the Very Long Baseline Array to capture a quasar nearly 13 billion light-years away, revealing details about its composition and potential jet expansion. The bright object is thought to be one of the brightest radio emitters at an early age, offering insights into the first galaxies in the universe.
Researchers Corey Howard, Ralph Pudritz and William Harris use supercomputer simulations to re-create star cluster formation. The study shows that massive star clusters are the natural outcome of large gas collections, and can be used to reverse-engineer galaxy conditions.
A team of astrophysicists propose a new model for the formation of globular clusters and supermassive stars. They suggest that a runaway collision process between densely packed stars in globular clusters could form a supermassive star, explaining the unusual chemical elements found in these clusters.
A new model proposes that dark inflation drove the early universe's expansion and predicts the detectability of primordial gravitational waves. The model provides a precise chronology of events during the first moments after the Big Bang.
New research led by the University of Warwick has found that globular clusters may be only around 9 billion years old, revised from their previous age of 13 billion. The discovery brings into question current theories on how galaxies, including the Milky Way, were formed.
Scientists have calculated the axial coupling constant of the weak interaction with high precision using lattice QCD simulations. This method allows for the comparison of experimental results and may explain discrepancies in neutron lifetime, shedding light on dark matter and fundamental universe questions.
Astronomers have observed a colossal cluster of galaxies for the first time, containing at least 14 galaxies packed into an area four times the diameter of the Milky Way's galactic disk. The cluster is churning out stars at an incredible pace, with rates ranging from 50 to 1,000 times higher than expected for solitary galaxies.
An international team found a fundamental law regulating galaxy cluster growth using gravitational lensing data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Subaru Telescope. The law indicates that clusters are still growing by drawing surrounding substances with their strong gravity.
NASA is studying four potential flagship missions to explore the universe, including direct imaging of Earth-like planets and investigation of first black holes. The agency will use advanced tools to overcome technical challenges and achieve unprecedented picometer-level stability.
A new calculation predicts the maximum bandwidth of the universe, a fundamental limit on change speed. The study builds on satellite-based CMB measurements, aiming to reveal the fastest thing in the universe - the Big Bang.
The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged a massive galaxy cluster, revealing its intricate structure and the presence of dark matter. The cluster is comprised of thousands of galaxies held together by gravity, with most of its mass existing in non-luminous dark matter.
Researchers found a galaxy with almost no dark matter, challenging the long-held idea that galaxies start with dark matter halos. The team discovered 10 globular clusters in NGC1052-DF2, which could account for all the mass in the galaxy.
Researchers at University of Houston are working with DarkSide program to detect dark matter using weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) and liquid argon technology. The team has improved the sensitivity of their detector, DarkSide-50, by switching to low-radioactivity liquid argon.
The team discovered DES16C2nm, a superluminous supernova, in the Dark Energy Survey, providing insights into the explosion and its potential connection to magnetars. The detection offers opportunities for advances in stellar astrophysics and cosmology, allowing researchers to study the expansion history of the universe.
Despite extensive searches, scientists remain puzzled by the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial life. ASU professor Paul Davies suggests that life may have originated on Mars and transferred to Earth, leaving behind a 'shadow biosphere' that could be hiding in plain sight.
The Mayall telescope is undergoing a major overhaul to install the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which will measure the spectra of 5000 astronomical objects simultaneously. The instrument will allow DESI to map out about one-third of the sky and survey 30 million galaxies and quasars over a five-year period.
A new international study has found a plane of dwarf galaxies orbiting around Centaurus A, challenging a long-held theory that these galaxies are spread out in all directions. The research reveals that spinning pancake-like systems of satellite galaxies are more common than previously thought.
Researchers trained neural networks on thousands of images from simulated high-energy particle collisions to identify key features. The networks achieved up to a 95% success rate in this analysis. Machine learning algorithms will next be applied to actual experimental data to further advance our understanding of the universe's mysteries.
The largest X-ray galaxy cluster ever discovered contains the mass of three million billion suns and is composed of two colliding clusters, with most mass hidden in dark matter. Hubble's observations also show that the hot gas is being torn from the dark matter during the collision.
Astrophysicists have discovered that the only known repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source is in an extreme environment, with measurements suggesting it may be caused by a black hole or other extreme astrophysical circumstances. The new findings raise questions about whether FRBs are a product of their environment.
An international team has discovered an 'astonishing' overabundance of massive stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. The study used detailed analyses of nearly 1,000 massive stars to determine their distribution, revealing that massive stars are much more abundant than previously thought.
Researchers from Louisiana State University have collected new data on KIC 8462852, also known as Tabby's Star, which has been dimming and brightening sporadically. The study suggests that dust is likely the cause of these changes, blocking different colors of light at varying intensities.
A team of researchers found that the star's light appears to dim and brighten due to different amounts of dust blocking various wavelengths of light. The study rules out alien megastructures as a cause, but raises the possibility of other phenomena being behind the dimming.
The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will generate never-before-seen big pictures of the universe, enabling astronomers to explore mysteries like dark energy and galaxy evolution. The mission will also discover thousands of exoplanets, including rocky planets in the habitable zone.
Researchers directly observed microbial activity in Antarctic and Arctic snow, revealing metabolically active bacteria that remain active in compressed ice. This discovery could lower estimated CO2 levels before human impact, expanding the search for habitable planets.
Scientists from UCLA and University of Wisconsin-Madison analyze ancient fossils, discovering primitive photosynthesizers, methane producers, and consumers. The findings suggest that life in the universe is widespread and not difficult to form.
Observations of two massive galaxies using ALMA radio telescope reveal they formed 780 million years after the Big Bang, challenging previous understanding. The discovery provides new insights into galaxy formation and dark matter's role in assembling large structures.
Astronomers find two giant galaxies from the Big Bang era, forming stars at record rates and surrounded by massive dark matter halos. Their rapid star formation is triggered by close encounters with smaller companions.
Astronomers have discovered a quasar harboring an 800 million solar mass black hole, located in a primarily neutral Universe at a redshift of 7.54. The finding challenges our understanding of the early growth of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.
Brazilian researcher Juliano Cesar Silva Neves challenges the standard cosmological model by proposing the elimination of the spacetime singularity and the possibility of a prior contraction phase. The current expansion may be preceded by contraction, with potential vestiges still present in the universe.
The IceCube Collaboration reports a critical measurement that shows energized neutrinos can be stopped cold as they pass through the Earth, exceeding previous expectations. The new study confirms the Standard Model of particle physics but also suggests potential for new physics beyond previously unknown spatial dimensions.
A new paper by physicist Stephen Jordan explores whether the universe holds solutions to difficult computational problems, such as number partitioning. The universe's background energy density is found to be close to zero, implying a stable material universe and potentially offering insights into these problems.
Scientists at the University of Sussex have disproved the existence of a specific type of axion, an important candidate for 'dark matter', across a wide range of its possible masses. The study limits the characteristics that these particles could have, sending physicists back to the drawing board in their hunt for dark matter.
Astronomers have detected the second most distant star-forming galaxy in the universe, born 12.8 billion years ago, using the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT). The galaxy is one of the first massive galaxies to form and was observed with high precision using millimeter waves.
A new cosmic picture of the universe's history shows a close agreement with previous findings, leaving little room for new physics that could reveal dark matter and dark energy. The results support the standard model of Big Bang cosmology, but scientists remain hopeful that new observations will offer clues about what lies beyond.
Scientists directly observed two neutron stars for the first time, detecting gravitational waves and a burst of gamma rays. The event allowed researchers to calculate the expansion rate of the universe and verify Einstein's prediction that gravitational waves travel at the speed of light.
Third-year physics graduate students Kaitlin Rasmussen and Devin Whitten witnessed the historic event using the 2.5-meter Irénée du Pont Telescope in Chile. The observation provided valuable insights into the rapid-neutron capture process, a key mechanism for forming heavy metals like gold, platinum, and uranium.
The detection of light from a neutron star merger reveals the formation of heavy elements like gold and platinum. The observations support theoretical predictions and provide new insights into astrophysics.
A team of scientists from around the world detected gravitational waves and visible light from the collision of two neutron stars. The discovery marks a new era in multimessenger astronomy, allowing researchers to learn more about the universe through different kinds of electromagnetic radiation and gravitational waves.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has been awarded $12.5 million to develop a new laboratory that will research fundamental properties of plasma to better understand the universe. The lab, known as WiPPL, will combine expertise and equipment from two existing projects to simulate astrophysical phenomena on Earth.
RIT researchers, in collaboration with LIGO and Virgo, successfully triangulated the position of a 1.8 billion-year-old black hole merger. With three advanced detectors observing together, scientists can now pinpoint locations with higher precision, enabling more accurate electromagnetic counterparts searches.
The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) is a radio telescope that will survey more than half the sky each day, creating a three-dimensional map of the largest volume of space ever surveyed. This will help scientists better understand the history of the universe and the nature of dark energy.
The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope is a revolutionary radio telescope that will create a three-dimensional map of the universe, extending deep into space and time. By measuring dark energy, scientists will better understand the shape, structure, and fate of the universe.
Claudia Ratti receives $475,000 NSF CAREER award to study quark-gluon plasma state and promote STEM education.
Astronomers have measured large, well-ordered magnetic fields in a galaxy 4.6 billion light-years away, providing clues about how magnetic fields formed and evolved over cosmic time. The new observations offer insights into the structure of galactic-sized magnetic fields since the beginning of the universe.
Astronomers observe magnetic field of a galaxy 5 billion light-years away, finding a similar strength and configuration to the Milky Way's. This suggests galactic magnetic fields form early in a galaxy's life and remain relatively stable.
Physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz introduce a new mechanism explaining dark matter's observed quantity, suggesting instability in its early universe phase. This alternative to the WIMP theory could be tested in future experiments on gravitational waves and CERN's LHC particle accelerator.
Researchers successfully performed thermonuclear measurements of nuclear reaction cross-sections in extreme plasma conditions, replicating previous accelerator experiments. This achievement lays groundwork for studying phenomena in stellar interiors, such as plasma electron screening.
Swansea University scientists have made a groundbreaking observation of spectral line shapes in antihydrogen, a key step towards understanding the origin of matter. The team has also precise determined the antihydrogen hyperfine splitting and measured its first transition line shape.
A study by MIT researchers found that delaying access to new technologies can stifle their spread, as seen in the case of cryptocurrency Bitcoin among incoming freshmen. The study showed that early adopters who received their allotment late cashed out at nearly twice the rate as those who received it earlier.